Thanks max. It will come as no surprise that you cannot get into the Alta Vista site just now. No wonder they say they will limit the first offer.
A British company Phones 4U were quoted in the morning papers as saying they will be ahead of Alta and launch a totally free service from March 15th. They will not have a limit on the numbers and expect to sign up "millions" in the first month.
Which ever way it looks as if call charges may be on the way out - at long last.